CWU alumna appointed interim president of Yakima Valley College

Two-time Central Washington University graduate Teresa Rich was named the interim president of Yakima Valley College this week after longtime President Linda Kaminski announced her retirement.

A YVC news release on Tuesday reported that the Board of Trustees has appointed Rich to serve as the college’s interim president, effective August 1. Kaminski has served as the institution’s president for 29 years and will step down at the end of this month.

Rich, who earned bachelor’s ('95) and master’s (’03) degrees in accounting from CWU, has more than two decades of experience in higher education accounting and administrative services. She has spent the past 18 years as vice president for administrative services at YVC and has been with the college for 23 years.

She also serves as a member of the Washington Community and Technical College Strategic Technology Advisory Committee, which makes statewide recommendations for the use of technology in Washington state community and technical colleges.

“We are pleased to be able to call upon Dr. Rich’s extensive experience in higher education and many years as a member of the YVC community to serve as our interim president while we undertake the search process for a permanent president,” said Patrick Baldoz, chair of the YVC Board of Trustees.

Rich has worked extensively in safety, security and emergency preparedness in the higher education. She is a member of the Association of Government Accountants and Rotary International and also serves on the board for Apprisen, a national nonprofit organization focusing on consumer credit counseling.

In addition to her two CWU degrees, Rich also holds a PhD in education, with a focus on community college leadership, from Oregon State University.